When Robots Write Resumes

This week’s tip comes from Damian, a Career Peer Educator at the University of Alberta’s Career Centre, who wanted to put ChatGPT’s ability to write a resume and cover letter to the test. While the results may not shock you, they emphasize the importance of originality and personality that only you can provide. We will cover some of Damian’s key takeaways, but you can read the full article here. 

ChatGPT cannot organize thoughts. Damian found that ChatGPT created a generic resume and failed to tailor his work experience to the position he was applying for. Tailoring your documents by responding to skills and competencies outlined in the job posting will help them stand out from other, more generic documents and give you a competitive edge over other applicants.

ChatGPT does not always tell the truth. While AI may be able to generate a resume and cover letter quickly, it might fabricate or exaggerate facts from your work experience and education, which could lead to legal and reputational consequences down the road. 

ChatGPT lacks a human voice. When applying for jobs, your resume and cover letter often contribute to an employer's first impression of you. Only you can infuse your own voice, interests and excitement about the position into your documents - AI does not replace your uniqueness.